FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: I just got back from Laguna Seca from a full weekend of moto-centric festivities. IMHO, the blemish on the weekend was without a doubt the Daytona Sportbike race. As you will recall after the first lap red flag incident involved Jake Holden and the target-fixated racer who plowed into him, the DSB race was shortened to 15 laps (then shortened even further due to the 2nd red flag.) This is apparently in direct conflict with Rule 2.23.b which reads: “b. When a race is stopped with two laps or less completed by the leader, it will be restarted for the original race distance using original starting positions. Riders must return safely to pit lane and park in their original pre-grid location on pit lane.” I don’t see anything in the subsections which gives an exemption to this rule when MotoGP is taking part in the same event. This is sarcasm. LOL. Also from the AMA Pro Rule book, rule 2.23.n: “n. Should a race be stopped in which 50% or more of the total laps have been completed by the leader, the race may be considered complete at the discretion of AMA Pro Racing.” So, if AMA Pro Racing would have followed Rule 2.23.b then Rule 2.23.n would have forced them to restart the race a second time as 10 of 23 laps were completed at the point of the second red flag–equates to 43%. Of course the big assumption is AMA PRo Racing would have followed Rule 2.23.n at all. The fans got screwed out seeing more than half of the DSB race, assuming it ran the full race distance. Keep in mind this is already a weekend with too much practice/qualifying/other fluff and not enough racing. By winning the race and Herrin DNF’ing, Danny Eslick was essentially crowned the DSB champion again this past Sunday. There are alot of what-if scenarios had the race been allowed to run the full distance–what if Danny crashed out during the extra 13 laps? Not likely, but one never knows. We will never know and that’s unfortunate. It definitely takes the luster off the finale in New Jersey. The reduction in laps during the DSB race was presumably caused by a time crunch issue with MotoGP being aired live at 2:00PM PST, however keep in mind the MotoGP race was NOT immediately following the DSB race. There was nearly 1 1/2 to 2 hours of “fluff” in between. It is a bit sickening the “time-filler” events between the DSB race and MotoGP race were deemed more important than the DSB race itself. From my recollection the events between the DSB race and MOtoGP race were Sponsor Pace Car laps, 2-up rides with Randy Mamola & Kenny Roberts taking laps on his 500cc GP bikes. Can Roadracing World or someone from AMA Pro Racing explain how this apparent blatant violation of the rules was allowed? Thanks. Harlan Horvath Fresno, California We forwarded Mr. Horvath’s e-mail to AMA Pro Racing and requested an explanation. Race Director David McGrath responded as follows, via e-mail: Mr. Horvath, Thank you for attending the Red Bull USGP and for your support of AMA Pro Racing. We, too, would have preferred that the Daytona SportBike race had run its originally scheduled length, but while every AMA Pro participant enjoys tremendous benefits when partnering with World Championship events, the schedule constructed by the RBUSGP principals is absolute–any track activity is dictated by their requirements, their television-production parameters, and by the FIM stewards. Unfortunately, the initial red flag stoppage for rider medical attention narrowed the window in which we could restart and complete a 23-lap race, while the second red flag dictated the race be deemed complete. AMA Pro regulation was implemented correctly within the restrictions and requirements of being part of a World Championship event, and our competitors know these realities are in play whenever we race on a world stage. Please read below for a more technical response to your excellent questions. (Also, please note that I believe you may have been referencing a non-current AMA Pro Road Racing rulebook. A link to the 2011 version can be found here: ~http://amaproracing.com/assets/AMAPro-RR-2011-Rulebook.pdf~. 2011 AMA Pro Road Racing rulebook 2.23 Red Flag Stops and Restart Procedures / c / i. “All riders will stop racing (no overtaking), safely reduce speed and proceed with caution to the pit lane. Riders should report to their hot pit stalls.” ii. “Red flags that occur during a race will then result in a minimum ten (10) minute delay until the restart. This time period will begin when the last active motorcycle enters pit lane. If the circuit is deemed raceable, the three (3) minute horn / board may be displayed seven (7) minutes into this minimum hiatus time.” 2.23 / d. “When a race is stopped before the leader completes two laps, the race will be deemed a complete restart with riders restarting from their original grid position.” Please note that nowhere in 2011 regulations is it written the restart must be original race distance. After the Daytona SportBike field was re-gridded per regulation, the race distance was calculated to run within the remaining time allotted: 15 laps / 33.6 miles. After the re-start, the field was working Lap 11 when a crashed machine was deposited on the downhill side of the Corkscrew, necessitating second red flag. Ten laps had been officially completed, which equaled 22.4 miles or 67% of the 15-lap race distance. 2011 AMA Pro Road Racing rulebook 2.23 / 0. “Should the race be stopped in which 50% or more of the total laps have been completed by the leader, the race may be considered complete at the discretion of AMA Pro Racing” The crashed machine had come to rest in a blind area and was reportedly leaking fluids on the race surface. In the case of a red flag caused by a machine leaking fluids, the FIM Clerk of Course must be present to instruct and sign off on the clean-up procedure. There was not enough time remaining to get the FIM officials on site, safely clear and clean the surface, re-grid the DSB field, and run the “remaining” five laps. These requirements, and their outcome, are the reality of participating in a World Championship event. For the sake of discussion, although we do not adhere to the FIM Rulebook, you can compare their regulations to ours in the case of a red flag restart: 2011 FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix Regulations 1.26.4 Conditions for the re-started race will be as follows: i) In the case of situation described in 1.15.2 (less than 3 laps completed ) above: a. All riders may restart b. Motorcycles may be repaired or changed. Refueling is permitted. c. For 125 and Moto2, the number of laps will be two-thirds of the original distance rounded down to the nearest whole number of laps. For MotoGP, the number of laps will be the same as the original race distance. d. The grid positions will be as for the original race. This FIM practice is consistent with both MotoGP and WSBK. As you can see, the support races (Superstock, in the case of WSBK) automatically reduce the remaining laps when a red-flag restart takes place. Delays could be weather related or, in this case, red flag stoppages–essentially self-inflicted injuries. Our riders understand that when we have the opportunity to be on track, they have to make every lap count. We openly discuss this during our riders’ meetings. AMA Pro Racing is working very hard to improve every aspect of our series, rules, and event officiating. Racing with MotoGP or WSBK is typically a win/win scenario, but occasionally we’re required to roll with the punches and make the best of a tough situation. Our competitors know this going in. I hope this response has helped you to better understand the developments you witnessed, and I’m confident the racing presented at New Jersey — like that seen at our previous 2011 rounds — will have us all on our feet. Thank you for your inquiry, and if you have any additional questions, please contact me directly. Best regards, David McGrath Race Director AMA Pro Racing Daytona Beach, Florida